Crystal Palace sign Jørgen Strand Larsen for £48m after Mateta’s Milan move collapses

Crystal Palace confirmed the signing of Norway striker Jørgen Strand Larsen from Wolves for an initial £43m plus £5m in bonuses just before the 7pm deadline on Monday, as Jean-Philippe Mateta’s proposed move to Milan collapsed; Mateta will be reintegrated into Palace’s squad. Palace said the Milan move fell through after a second medical examination by the Italian club revealed concerns over a knee injury that Palace have managed this season, and “they do not believe it requires surgery.” Mateta was left out of Palace’s match against Nottingham Forest after manager Oliver Glasner said he was “not at his best” because of uncertainty about his future.

Strand Larsen’s arrival — he has scored only once in the Premier League this season and almost joined Newcastle in the summer — means he will compete with Mateta for a starting spot. Mateta also faces a challenge to win back supporters who booed him off after his last appearance against Chelsea two weeks ago.

Palace had already broken their transfer record this month by signing Brennan Johnson from Tottenham for £35m, and the Strand Larsen deal takes the club’s spending this month to more than £90m. The club also submitted a late deal sheet for Everton’s Dwight McNeil on a loan with an obligation to buy for £20m, but that move failed to materialise.

Other late-window activity saw Palace reject a loan offer for Josh Acheampong and not follow up interest in West Ham’s Max Kilman and Ruben Kluivert of Lyon.

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